Vault door



Oct. 20, 1931. J P. PACA 1,828,436

VAULT DOOR Filed Sept. ll. 1926, 5 Sheets-Sheet l lltlilllw cfa/m Paca wf .2Q/W

OC. 20, 1931. 1. P PACA 1,828,436

VULT DOOR Filed Sept. ll, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 atroz. ne gr Oct. 20, 1931 J. P. PACA VAULT DOOR Filed S r 2 la' 7 f la 1 W www ept.

cfa/zzz P. Paca 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOI-IN P. PACA, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 DIEBOLD SAFE & LOCK COMPANY, OF

CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO VAULT DOOR Application filed September 11, 1926. Serial No. 134,863.

My invention relates to vault doors and the like, and more particularly to vault doors including drill resisting and torch resisting material.

` Vault doors usually include an external case containing filler plates of torch resisting material and filler blocks of drill resisting material, and the door case usually includes a front wall, and inwardly converging and y preferably stepped side, top and bottom walls, for rightly fitting into corresponding side, top, and bottom walls of a door frame mounted at the front of a suitable vestibule of the vault, and the door case also is provided with a back wall, of necessity smaller in area than the front wall. It is desirable for protective purposes that the front wall and inwardly converging side, top, and bottom walls of the door case be of integral construc- 2or tion, and it has been usual to integrally cast out of steel the front, side, top, and bottom Walls of the door case.

The integral case casting thus made has a back opening smaller in size than the maximum area of the inside of the front wall of the case, due to the inwardly converging side, top and bottom walls of the case. It is desirable to place the drill resisting filler plates in the case adjacent the front wall thereof, in

order that a drill which has successfully made an aperture in the front wall of the case will immediately strike upon the drill resisting filler plates which may be made of a multiple ply plate, that is to say, a plate including a plurality of hard steel layers integrally associated with a plurality of soft steel layers, and which drill resisting filler plate will immediately dull a drill striking it.

In making a door, however, by the use of an integral cast case front, side, top and bottom walls as aforesaid, due to the relatively small back opening of the case and the relatively large area of the case at the inside of the front wall, it has been impossible to provide drill resisting filler plates for such a vault door which will extend unbrokenly across the full area of the case adjacent the inside of the front wall thereof; and it has been necessary to provide two or more drill 5U-resisting filler plates whose combined area would equal the area of the case adjacent the inside of the front wall in order to insert the plates through the smaller back opening of the case.

This dividing of the drill resisting ller plates, made necessary by the requirement of inserting the filler plates into the case through the smaller back opening thereof, creates cracks between the side by side drill resisting plates, whereby a drill reaching the drill resisting filler plates at a crack may not be successfully stopped thereby.

On the other hand if an unbroken drill resisting filler plate is used, which is large enough to just pass through the back opening of the door case, there will be an outer zone beyond the outside edges of the drill resisting filler plate in the case which is entirely unprotected by drill resisting material.

For similar reasons in a vault door, it is desirable to provide one or more torch resisting filler blocks which will extend unbrokenly across the full area of the door case, but it has been impossible to provide such one piece torch resisting filler blocks for vault doors as aforesaid, and it has been necessary to provide two or more torch resisting filler blocks whose combined area would equal the area of the case in order to insert the blocks through the smaller back opening of the case.

Moreover constructing a vault door by the usual method as aforesaid, which includes filling a case with a multiplicity of filler plates and blocks, from a smaller rear opening therein, is relatively expensive.

The objects of the present improvements are generally to overcome the foregoing structural and economic difficulties and are specifically: First, to provide a'vault door having an unbroken one piece drill resisting filler plate and an unbroken one piece torch resisting filler block each extending across the full area of the door front and adjacent thereto; and

Second, to provide an improved method of making a vault door by filling a door case with drill resisting material and torch resisting material from the front, rather than from the back as has heretofore been required.

These and ancillary objects are attained by ICS a construction and arrangement which may be stated in general terms as including a door case having inwardly converging side, top, and bottom walls preferably integrally cast and adapted to be filled from the front with a suitable one piece torch resisting block, and a one `piece drill resisting plate extending across the entire front opening of the case, together with a front wall for the case preferably made of open hearth steel plate and adapted to be Welded at its edges to the case side, top, and bottom walls after the filler block and plate have been inserted, thereby forming an external door case having integral front, side, top, and bottom walls.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of the front of a vault door, frame, and vestibule embodying the present improvements;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section thereof as on line 2 2, Figs. 1 and 3, certain parts of the hinges, pressure system and locking mechanism being removed;

Fig. 3, a transverse horizontal cross-section thereof as on line 3 3, Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4t, a detached fragmentary perspective view of the upper outer corner of the door;

Fig. 5, a longitudinal, vertical section of a modified and relatively thick vault door embodying the present improvements, as on line 5 5, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 6, a transverse, horizontal, cross section thereof, as on line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The improved vault door indicated generally at l, is provided in a usual manner with suitable hinges 2, a pressure system 3 and a locking mechanism 4, the hinges being mounted upon a suitable door frame 5 for hanging the door to swing substantially 180o for properly opening the same.

The door 1 includes case side walls 6 and 7, case top wall 8, and case bottom wall 9, all converging inwardly from the front tothe rear of the door, and being preferably stepped in a usual fashion for tightly fitting into corresponding side, top and bottom walls of the door frame 5, which is mounted at the front of a suitable vestibule 10 for a vault.

The side, top and bottom case walls are preferably formed of an integral steel casting, and are provided with inwardly projecting rear cover plate and filler supporting flanges 11, and at their front edges with rabbeted ledges 12 for receiving a case front wall 13 preferably made of open hearth steel plate of a desired thickness.

In assembling the door by the improved method hereof, the integral cast steel case side, top, and bottom walls are supported for filling the case through the larger front opening with a suitable one piece torch resisting filler block, and one or more one piece drill resisting plates.

The torch resisting filler block 15 is preferably made of metallic alloy and is preferably secured as by screws 16 to the flanges 11.

The torch resisting filler block fills a major portionof the case from rear to front, and a one piece drill resisting filler plate 17 extending across the full area of the front of the case opening, is secured to the filler block as by screws 18.

The one piece drill resisting iller plate is preferably made of a multiple ply plate, that is to say, .a plate including a plurality of hard steel layers preferably integrally associated with a plurality of soft steel layers, and which will immediately dull a drill striking the same.

The outer front surface of the drill resisting filler plate is preferably spaced a suit-able distance to the rear of the ledges 12 in order to provide a forward chamber 19 for containing electrical alarm wires 2O connected in a usual manner with suitable alarm circuits.

After the filler block and plates have been inserted in the case as aforesaid, the outer case front wall 13 is then laid upon the ledges 12, and integrally secured to the case side, top, and bottom walls as by arc welding 21, the outer edges of the front case wall 13 having been suitably beveled for proper welding as indicated at 22.

For protecting the bolt work of the door, .a rear one piece drill resisting filler plate 23 extending across the full area of the opening between the flanges 11, is secured to the rear of the filler block 15 as by screws 24. A rear case wall 25, preferably made of an open hearth steel plate, may then be secured upon the supporting flanges 11, as by screws 26.

The bolt bars 27 for mounting the bolts 28 of the bolt work, are preferably integral extensions of the case side and top walls.

In drilling through a vault door provided as aforesaid, with a one piece drill resisting filler plate extending across the full area of the door case closely adjacent the rear of the front case wall, and in front of the one piece torch resisting filler block, a drill which may have successfully made an aperture in the front case wall, will immediately strike the closely adjacent drill resisting filler plate and will immediately be dulled.

On the other hand, while a torch may successfully and rapidly cut .an aperture in the door case wall and drill resisting cover plate, the relatively thick torch resisting filler block immediately at the rear of the drill resisting filler plate will render it an exceedingly lengthy operation for a torch to cut an aperture in the filler block.

If, however, the vault door is constructed according to the old method, as aforesaid, with a cast case having integral front, side, top and bottom Walls, thereby requiring the use either of a plurality of side by side drill resisting plates, and torch resisting filler blocks, or a single plate not entirely covering the front area of the case just inside the case front wall, a drill may either successfully pass through the cracks between side by side drill resisting plates, or may entirely miss the drill resisting plate beyond the outer edges thereof, and may very rapidly be passed through the torch resisting filler blocks to a position enabling an explosive charge to be inserted which might render inoperative the vault door bolting and locking mechanism.

The improvements may be applied to a relatively thick vault door illustrated in Figs. and 6, and indicated generally at 1, and which includes case side walls 6 and 7, case top wall 8 and case bottom wall 9 all converging inwardly from the front to the rear of the door, for tightly fitting into corresponding side, top, and bottom walls of a door frame, not shown.

The side, top and bottom case walls are preferably in the form of an integral steel casting, and are provided with inwardly projecting rear cover plate and filler supporting flanges 11', and at their front edges with inner rabbeted ledges 12 for receiving a case front wall 13 preferably made of open hearth steel plate of the desired thickness.

In assembling the door, the integral cast steel case side, top, and bottom walls are supported for filling the case through the larger front opening with a suitable one piece torch resisting filler block and one or more drill resisting plates.

The torch resisting filler block 15 is preferably made of metallic alloy and is preferably secured as by screws 16 to the flanges ll.

The torch resisting filler block fills the rear portion of the case from rear to front and a one piece drill resisting filler plate 17 extending across the full area of the front of the case opening, is spaced from the filler block and secured as by screws 18 to rabbeted ledges 29 upon the case side, top, and

bottom walls adjacent the outer rabbeted ledges 12.

Material such as concrete 30 is inserted into the case before the insertion of the plate 17 to fill the space between the plate 17 and the block 'The outer front surface of the drill resisting filler plate is preferably spaced a suitable distance to the rear of the ledges 12, in order to provide a forward chamber 19 for containing electrical alarm wires 20 connected in usual manner with suitable alarm circuits.

After the filler block and plates have been inserted in the case as aforesaid, the outer case front wall 13 is then laid upon the ledges 12', and integrally secured to the case side,

" top, and bottom walls as by arc welding 21',

the outer edges of the front case wall 13 having been suitably beveled for proper welding as indicated at 22.

For protecting the bolt work of the door, a rear one piece drill resisting filler plate 23 extending across the full area of the opening between the flanges 11, is secured to the rear of the filler block 15 as by screws 24. A rear case wall 25, preferably made of open hearth steel plate, may then be secured upon the supporting flanges 11, as by screws 26.

The bolt bars 27 for mounting the bolts 28 of the bolt work, are preferably integral extensions of the case side and top walls.

I claim:

l. A vault door, including a door case having a front wall and side, top, and bottom walls integral with the front wall and having inwardly converging inner faces, a one piece front drill resisting plate closely adjacent the front wall thereof and extending substantially across the full area of the front case wall, a torch resisting filler block in the case spaced from the drill resisting plate, and extending substantially across the full area of the front case wall and filler material such as concrete between the plate and the block.

2. A door of the character described having a fabricated case comprising integral front, top, side and bottom walls, the inner surfaces of said top, side and bottom walls converging' inwardly so that the area of the inner surface of the front wall is larger than the opening into said case through the back thereof, a one-piece drill resisting filler plate extending substantially across the full area of the back surface of said front wall, said filler plate being larger in area than the opening into the back of said case, and a separate plate forming a back wall for said door.

3. A door of the character described having a fabricated case comprising integral front, top, side and bottom walls, the inner surfaces of said top, side and bottom walls converging inwardly so that the area of the inner surface of the front wall is larger than the opening in the said case through the back thereof, a one-piece torch resisting filler block formed from metal and extending substantially across the full area of the back surface of said front wall, said filler block being larger in area than said opening through the back of said case, and a separate plate forming a back wall for said door.

4. A door ofthe character described having a fabricated case comprising integral front, top, side and bottom walls, the inner surfaces of said top, side and bottom walls converging inwardly so that the area of the inner surface of the front wall is larger than the opening into said case through the back thereof, a one-piece drill resisting liller plate disposed in back of said front wall, a onepiece torch resisting filler block formed from metal and disposed in back of said front wall,

llO

said filler plate and said filler block extending substantially across the full area of the back surface of said front Wall, said filler plate being larger in area than said opening, and a separate plate forming a back Wall for said door.

5. A fabricated door of the character described comprising an integral top, side and bottom Walls, a front Wall Welded to said top, Side and bottom Walls, the inner surfaces of said top, bottom and side Walls being shaped so that the area of the inner surface of said front Wall is larger than the opening into said door through the back thereof, a one-piece drill resisting filler plate extending substantially across the full area of the back surface of said front Wall, said filler plate being larger in area than said opening, and a separate plate forming a back Wall for said door.

6. A fabricated door of the character described colnprising an integral top, side and bottom Walls, a front Wall Welded to said top, side and bottom Walls, the inner surfaces of said top, side and bottom Walls being shaped so that the area of the inner side' of said front Wall is larger than the area bounded by the back edges of said top, side and bottom Walls, a one-piece metal filler block of.

torch resisting material disposed Within said door and extending substantially across the entire area of said back surface of said front Wall, and a separate plate forming a back Wall for said door.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN P. PACA.

DISCLAIMER 1,828,436.-Jolm. P. Paca Canton, Ohio. VAULT Doon. Patent dated Oct. 20, 1931. Disclaimer iiled MayI 16, 1946, by the assignee, Diebold, Ineorporated.

Hereb disclaims from the scope of claim 1 all vault doors except those wherein the integraly door case, the one-piece drill resisting plate, and the torch resisting filler block set forth in said claim are each substantially rectangular;

From the scopo of claim 2 all doors except vault doors wherein the integral fabricated case, the one-piece drill resisting filler plate, and the separate back wall plate set forth in said claim are each substantially rectangular;

From the scope of claim 3 all doors except `fault doors wherein theintegral fabricated case, the one-piece torch resisting filler block, and the separate back wall plate set forth in said claim are each substantially rectan lar;

From the scope of claim 4 all doors except vault cors wherein the integral fabricated case, the one-piece drill resisting filler plate, the one-piece torch resisting filler block, and the separate back wall plate set forth in said claim are each substantially rectangular; From the soope of claim 5 all Afabricated doors except substantially reotan ular vault doors wherein the welded front wall, the one-piece drill resisting filler p ate, and g1tilha separate back wall plate set forth in said claim are each substantially reotan ar; an

From the scope of claim all fabricated doors except substantially rectan ar vault doors wherein the welded front wall, the one-piece torch resisting filler b ook, and the separate back wall plate set forth in said claim are each substantially rectangular.

[Qicial Gazette June 25, 1.946.] 

